Week 1: Who is Charles Darwin? What is the theory of evolution?
I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory.
Rundown of the Week
Monday: "Evolution of..." Unit Launch
In Class Assignment: Review unit and create "I Can..." posters.
Homework: None!
Tuesday: "13 Ways to Tell Time Backwards" In Class Activity
In Class Assignment: Learn the many ways to date fossils and other ancient artifacts.
Homework: None! :)
Wednesday: Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
In Class Assignment: Recreate Darwin's travels on the HMS Beagle where he made observations that led him to develop his Theory of Evolution, answering questions along the way in your own Log Sheet.
Homework: None :)
Thursday: Natural Selection
In Class Assignment: Create two organisms using SketchFu, one with a benficial mutation and the other with a non-favorable mutation that would cause nature to select against it, and embed your drawing on Our Organisms page.
Homework: Complete your 3-5 sentence explanation of your organisms' mutations if you did not finish in class.
Daily Lessons
Monday: "Evolution of..." Unit Launch
Today we will be reviewing our "Evolution of..." unit and discussing what you will be learning in science this term. You will be creating posters for each of our "I Can..." statements that we can display in our classrooms. This will be an entirely in class activity.
We will also be watching an excellent Discovery Channel program called "100 Greatest Discoveries: Genetics" hosted by Bill Nye. We will watch this in class, but I've included the link in case you are absent or want to watch it again ;).
Tuesday: "13 Ways to Tell Time Backwards" In Class Activity
Objective: Students will explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by investigating the many ways scientists date different materials to help support the theory of evolution.
Today you will be learning how scientists like Charles Darwin use different methods to date fossils and other ancient artifacts. This will be an entirely in class activity.
Wednesday: Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
Objective: Students will continue to explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by investigating who Charles Darwin is and what he discovered about the theory of evolution on his trips on the HMS Beagle.
The site should provide you with instructions on how to continue through the journey. Remember to answer the questions on the GoogleDocs sheet as you move through the site, visiting each of the places Charles Darwin visited on his journey on the HMS Beagle. You may visit the locations in any order that you would like.
When you have completed your Log Sheet, please save it to your server space, including the last name of you and your partner in the title. Then drag and drop it in Ms. Frazer's turn in bin on the Server.
Thursday: Natural Selection
Objective: Students will continue to explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by creating their own organisms who would be selected for or against by nature due to their mutations.
Today, you and your partner will be designing two organisms of the same species that will express what you have learned about natural selection and how it determines which individuals will survive long enough in their environment to successfully pass their traits on to their offspring (in other words, reproduce).
Organism 1 has experienced a favorable mutation that would make it better suited to its environment, enabling it to obtain food, reproduce, and pass its genes on to the next generation.
Organism 2 belongs to the SAME SPECIES, but was born with one non-favorable mutation that would cause nature to select against it.
You will be using SketchFu, an online program that will allow you to record the drawing of your organisms and play them back. When you visit SketchCast, you or your partner will need to register by clicking "Sign Up" in the top right of the screen with an email address. If neither of you has an email address, let Ms. Frazer know and she will give you one to use.
Once you've registered, you will be on a profile editing screen. You do not need to change anything on this screen, just click "Save Changes" to move to your home page. Then click on the pink "draw" at the top of the screen to bring up your drawing canvas. You can change the color or size of your brush at the top of the drawing canvas. For more help with using SketchFu, you can also visit our How-To page for a tutorial.
Please name and draw Organism 1 first, followed by Organism 2, using the descriptions listed above for each organsim. You can erase the screen before drawing your second organism. Feel free to give it an environment to live in as well, as this will help your description you will be writing.
When you've drawn both organisms, you can "replay" your drawing. Slower speeds of replay might be best. When you and your partner are happy with the drawings, click "Publish" at the bottom right of the canvas.
Finally, you will be embedding your drawing with a short description on Our Organisms page. Please follow the directions there to complete the assignment.
I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory.
Rundown of the Week
Daily Lessons
Monday: "Evolution of..." Unit Launch
Tuesday: "13 Ways to Tell Time Backwards" In Class Activity
Objective: Students will explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by investigating the many ways scientists date different materials to help support the theory of evolution.
Wednesday: Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
Objective: Students will continue to explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by investigating who Charles Darwin is and what he discovered about the theory of evolution on his trips on the HMS Beagle.
Thursday: Natural Selection
Objective: Students will continue to explore the I Can... Statement: "I can identify and explain how the contributions of scientists in the fields of genetics, heredity and evolution have shaped and advanced scientific theory," by creating their own organisms who would be selected for or against by nature due to their mutations.